Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
Military unit
The 81st Separate Slobozhanska Airmobile Brigade (Ukrainian: 81-ша окрема аеромобільна Слобожанська бригада; 81 ОАеМБр)[2] is a brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. The brigade fought in the war in Donbas and in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3][4]
History
The 81st Airmobile Brigade was established in fall 2014 from elements of the 25th Airborne Brigade.[5] The brigade includes the 90th and 122nd Separate Airborne Battalions. In May 2015, the volunteer OUN Battalion became part of the brigade.[6] The brigade fought in the Battle of Donetsk Airport. On 9 June 2015, brigade Lieutenant Ivan Zubkov was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine posthumously for calling in artillery fire on himself during the battle at Donetsk Airport. The brigade's 90th Battalion was named for Zubkov on 30 December of that year.[7]
At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade spent a month defending the city of Izium. Afterwards, it took up the defense of Oleksandrivka. On 30 April 2022, the brigade was withdrawn from the front line through Sviatohirsk.[8]
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the brigade was attacked by Russian missile troops during the night of the 24-25 April 2022.[9]
They fought in Izyum, Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Bohorodychne, Sviatohirsk, Yarova, Drobysheve, and liberated Lyman.[10]
By September 10, the brigade had become involved in the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive. After fighting for Bohorodychne for more than three months, the brigade raised the Ukrainian flag over the village on September 11, 2022.[11] On September 24, Russian military bloggers reported that the brigade liberated half of Novoselivka, just 10 km north of Lyman. Four days later on the 28th, the town was fully recaptured alongside members of the National Guard of Ukraine. Following the town's capture, the brigade turned south and east towards Lyman.[12] On October 1, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced the withdrawal from Lyman.[4]
Structure
As of 2024 the brigade's structure is as follows:
- 81st Airmobile Brigade, Kramatorsk
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
1st Airmobile Battalion
90th Airmobile Battalion (created in September 2014 on the basis of the 95th Air Assault Brigade and made up exclusively of volunteers).[3] Deputy Commander Dmytro Chapalika.
122nd Airmobile Battalion (formed in the fall of 2014 on the basis of the 3rd battalion of the 80th Air Assault Brigade).[3]
5th Battalion Tactical Group- Tank Company
- Reconnaissance Company
- Aerial Reconnaissance Unit "Black Raven Group"
- Artillery Group (brigade artillery group equipped with 2S1 self-propelled artillery vehicles).[3]
- Anti-Aircraft Company
- Support units (this includes all rear elements such as engineers, communication, medics, and material support unit).[3]
References
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